In 1834 the Duchy of Cornwall leased the Isles of Scilly to a Hertfordshire Squire, Augustus Smith, who became the Lord Proprietor of the islands. He helped bring prosperity to Scilly that is still enjoyed to this day. He built his home, Tresco Abbey, alongside the ruins of an old priory and set about creating a garden that was to become a world famous collection of plants from all over the world. Successive generations have carried out his work and Tresco Abbey Garden is now internationally renowned as one of the finest outdoor specimens of sub-tropical flora and fauna to be found in the Northern Hemisphere.
Today Robert Dorrien-Smith, who with his wife Lucy, runs the business as Tresco Estate, owns Tresco island and Hell Bay hotel on Bryher. Mr & Mrs Dorrien-Smith and family live in Tresco Abbey.
The main operating units of Tresco Estate include the Island Hotel, New Inn, timeshare and rental holiday cottages, Gallery Tresco, Tresco Stores, Tresco Abbey Garden with the Shop and Cafe, Tresco Heliport, the farm, woodlands and island services. We also own the Hell Bay hotel on the neighbouring Island of Bryher, which was acquired by the Estate in November 1999. Everyone who works in these departments is employed by Tresco Estate and are all part of a team led by Departmental Managers who report to the Island Management Board. Tresco Estate is very much a family run business and this reflects in the companionship, teamwork and friendly response that all employees will experience with their work colleagues across all departments.
A community of about 150 permanently lives on the island of Tresco and 80 on the island of Bryher, with a mixture of young and old alike. Some families have lived on the islands for many generations. On Tresco, there are a high percentage of young families and the island is considered a safe and secure playground for children of all ages.
Only Hell Bay on Bryher is operated as part of Tresco Estate, and the other Island residents are most proud of their independence. Each individual property is leased from the Duchy of Cornwall, many being small businesses, reliant on tourism to make a living.
